The building & its collections

The Palace of Westminster, or the Houses of Parliament as it is also known, has changed dramatically over the course of nearly a thousand years of history. Transformed from royal residence to the home of a modern democracy, the architecture and cultural collections of the Palace and the wider Parliamentary Estate have continually evolved, sometimes by design, sometimes through accident or attack.

Increasing demand for space has meant the Parliamentary Estate now extends well beyond the Palace of Westminster. It includes the Norman Shaw buildings that were originally used by Scotland Yard, as well as buildings on Parliament Street and the most rece

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Houses of History

Watch this video to experience one thousand years of history at the Palace of Westminster in just three minutes. You will see the shift in power from the monarch to the people, the emergence of universal suffrage, and the amazing history of the Palace itself.